All at Sea

Well, much as I liked the award-winning power ballad 'Man or Muppet' in the middle of the film, I'm afraid the new Muppet film was a little disappointing.  As had been said elsewhere,  they used to be anarchic, and now they are too safe.
Which is a shame.  What has happened to the sheer joy of Muppet Treasure Island?

On the other hand, we went to see Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! yesterday and really enjoyed it.  Aardman (Peter Lord). Terrific animation. Sillier.  Much recommended.

Poem ot the Week

Man or Muppet?
Bret McKenzie/The Muppets

I reflect on my reflection
and I ask myself the question
What's the right direction, to go
I don't know
Am I a man or am I a muppet
(am I a muppet)
If I'm a muppet then im a very manly muppet
(a very manly muppet)
Am I a muppet (muppet) or am I a man (am I a man)
If I'm a man that makes me a muppet of a man
(a muppet of a man)
I look into these eyes
and I don't recognise
The one I see insi-i-i-ide
It's time for me to decide
Am I a man or am I a muppet
(am I a muppet)
If I'm a muppet, well I'm a very manly muppet
(a very manly muppet)
Am I a muppet (muppet) or am I a man (am I a man)
If I'm a man that makes me a muppet of a man
(a muppet of a man)
Here I go again
I'm always running out of time
I think I've made up my mind
Now I understand, who I am
I'm A Man!
I'm A Muppet!
I'm a Muppet of a man
I'm a very manly Muppet
I'm a Muppety Man!
That's what I am...

Living in the '80s?

Are we? 

We've just had David Attenborough yet again on Desert Island Discs
The Muppets are back
Adrian Mole is enjoying a renaissance
We have again got a stupid Tory, Eurosceptic government who don't listen to people
The Falklands are in the news
Iron Lady horror movie

... and we watched Gregory's Girl last night...

Bert and...

OK.  I'm sure everyone else knew this, but I've just discovered that Bert and Ernie from Sesame Street were named after two characters from It's A Wonderful Life.  

Better than That

In fact, it was fantastic!  Muppet Treasure Island may in fact be the best film of the '90s.  And Ken from The View from Nunhead Station argued the other day that it was probably the best film of Treasure Island ever. 

Simply the Best

1996 seems to have had a few good films - The English Patient, Jerry Maguire,  Crash, Secrets and Lies and Trainspotting of course, and some very enjoyable ones - such as Independence Day, Mars Attacks and Mission Impossible.

But there is one film from the period which, when mentioned to true cognoscenti and film buffs, receives a unanimous response. Everyone says it was the best film of the year.  And we are going to watch our old battered video of it this afternoon.

They're Back!

- or so it seems, and Hadley Freeman in the Guardian showcased her top five Muppet moments.  And I know there are a lot to choose from, but I think she missed one or two. 

For example:-

Marvellous!

Bo Rap

I've acquired a small and only slightly damaging Amazon habit, and recently bought Queen's "A Night At The Opera" - mostly for Bohemian Rhapsody.

But, hey, it isn't as good as the original...

Green Film

No, not Green Lantern - which I'm sure is a fine theatrical experience - but rather this trailer which eldest recently pointed out to me:




Play it before reading on.






















Lovely, isn't it?




Given that Muppet Treasure Island was unquestionably the greatest English-language film of the 1990s (*), how could I not give a mention to the trailer for the new film?

(*) With the arguable exceptions of Toy Story, Saving Private Ryan and ... no, that's it.